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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-07-14 Daily Xml
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Answers to Questions

VACSWIM

In reply to the Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (30 October 2008).

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business): The Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing has provided the following response:

1. I am advised the ORS is unsure where this statistic is sourced. ORS suggests the member is quoting from the average response to some 15 questions, only one of which is related to program content.

The other 14 questions used to determine the overall level of satisfaction, include such matters as enrolment procedures, value for money, quality of instructors and the amount of water space for lessons.

Royal Life Saving Society Australia's 'Swim and Survive' program is just one of a number of Learn to Swim, water safety products in the Australian marketplace. It is not the only product, for example the Department of Education and Children's Services (DECS) does not use 'Swim and Survive' for its own programs in South Australian schools.

I understand the Royal Life Saving Society manual states that their program is attainable in the context of an 'ongoing, comprehensive and developmentally sound water safety, personal survival and swimming education' environment. Hence it is better suited to be delivered as an ongoing program over a longer timeframe.

The successful contractor proposed to write a new water safety program for VACSWIM, based on their own learn to swim product 'Swimways Learn to Swim' that was suitable for delivery over 7-days and implement this.

The government still maintained that certain standards had to apply, including that any program had to meet the 'Water Safety Competency Targets', sometimes referred to as the National Water Safety Framework, which were set out in the National Water Safety Plan 2004-07.

The business plan put forward, and which the government accepted after a proper evaluation process, involved shortening VACSWIM from 9 days x 40 minutes to 7 days x 45 minutes.

The rationale put forward by the contractor was that families would benefit from reduced travel, reduced pool entry costs and the shorter time commitment for busy working families.

2. The area of water safety is not as simple as many people assume. There are in fact several specialist organisations each with their own area of expertise. The three highest profile organisations are AUSTSWIM, Surf Life Saving and Royal Life Saving Society.

The Australian Water Safety Strategy sets out that AUSTSWIM is regarded as the primary body in relation to the teaching of swimming and water safety in Australia. Royal Life Saving is regarded as the primary body in regard to the training and development of lifeguards for pools and inland waters.

I am advised Mr Richter was the chief lecturer for AUSTSWIM in South Australia until 2006 and has held senior roles with AUSTSWIM and Royal Life Saving as well as having run the South Australian 'Learn to Swim' program for more than 20 years.

I am advised the contractor did meet with the South Australian Branch of the Royal Life Saving Society in July 2008 to show them the new program.

The Office for Recreation and Sport met with the South Australian Branch again in August 2008 and the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing met with them again on 16 October and 10 December 2008.

At the 10 December 2008 meeting all parties, including the Australian Water Safety Council and the Royal Life Saving Society, agreed that the program as it was developed by the contractor, approved by the government's independent advisor and accepted by the government, met the 2008-11 Water Safety Educational Competency Framework.

The Minister and the contractor agreed to clarify the wording of one competency and to add some additional competencies, primarily to make it easier for children undertaking VACSWIM to transition into the Royal Life Saving Society higher awards program.

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